More than Writers

Did you feel inclined to cheer at Merryl Streep’s attack on Donald Trump? Or perhaps rather at his retaliatory tweet, the one that said she was ‘overrated’? (I must admit to some sympathy with both…) But I have come to the conclusion that, in this time of crisis, to incline to such a response is to head up the wrong path. Retorts, rebuttals, refutations, repudiation, ridicule, mockery, sarcasm, satire, scorn: all those reactions. I crave the psychological release of using them as much as anyone. But I think that they only compound the evil. A toad. We may be tempted to think of some people as toads. My guess is that God is as much concerned about the way we debate and discuss divisive issues as about the substance of those issues. Perhaps more. A great deal of the distress I have felt over the last six months stems from the way people have responded to the crises with loaded speech or emotional behaviour, often crude. When we compare our instinctive behaviour to the standa...

I suppose it all started on our Church holiday.   When the speaker said he had a word for me later, I blurted out ‘Why later?   Tell me now, I can’t wait!’   The others, who were stood around praying, looked startled – but waited while the word came:   Habbakuk 3:19 – ‘Hinds’ feet on high places’ that was a bit of a shock – me, quiet me who never felt comfortable speaking in public, in high places?   The rest of the word was that it would be easy.   Ah, that’s all right then.   But now, today, here I am, the suddenly promoted ACW Acting Chair, stood locked out of my room at the CRT conference in my bare feet and posh dress wondering what is happening.   I am very nervous about a short presentation speech I have to give this evening.   I should be in a reception – talking to ACW’s guests and award winners – including The Famous Writer, Adrian Plass.   I should have my presentation speech ready in my freshly purchased eveni...